What Homeowners can Learn from Animal Fences around the World

Extreme weather conditions are driving wild animals to search for food in human habitats. In smaller towns like the Tri-Cities, wood fences have long been relied upon for garden protection. Yet animals are now becoming more desperate for food and therefore braver than ever – many are willing to walk straight through town and climb fences if it means they might find some tasty treats, such as human garbage.

The New York Times recently ran a story on how last summer’s intense drought killed off much of the grasses, berries and nuts that bears, mule deer and elk rely upon. As a result, some very unusual animal spottings have occurred:

Famished bears raided two candy stores in Colorado.

A bear charged at the door of a Telluride, Colo., bar. The barkeep on duty slammed the front door shut and yelled and clapped until the bear walked away.

Mule deer and elk are dining on farmers’ crops more frequently.

Animals are coming down from the mountains, desperate to pack on the pounds before the winter hits.

Each state is responding to the problem in its own way. Utah is issuing more hunting licenses for elk. Colorado animal control officials now kill bears that have wandered into human zones twice. And Wyoming is erecting a 200-mile-long migration fence at the base of the Wind River Mountains. The Wind River fence, installed by the Wyoming Land Trust, will protect wildlife and highways by creating a clear route for migrating animals while also directing critters away from local towns.

Similarly, Kenya’s government is building 250-mile-long, 6-foot-high electrified fence aroundMount Kenya. The project is slated to take five years and is intended to prevent wildlife from destroying local crops.

What can these animal fencing projects teach homeowners? Well, as builders of Tri-Cities wood fences, we can tell you that even a 6-foot-tall solid fence isn’t always enough to keep out wild animals. Still, if you’re hoping to protect your home, a good first line of defense is installing a privacy fence. Tri-Cities residents who want to protect their gardens from marauding beasts should first ensure they have a strong fence in place. If animals are still foraging on your property even after the fence is erected, call us. With decades of experience in building fences in the Pacific Northwest, we can help you find the ideal fence design to keep out the most persistent animal trespassers.

This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
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